Scandal, Revelations Shake Uf's Exclusive Leaders Club

Blue Key Has Campus Clout And Powerful Alumni, But After Losing A Lawsuit, It Is Fighting To Survive.

April 19, 1998|By Maya Bell MIAMI BUREAU

GAINESVILLE — In his first act as president of Florida's most illustrious campus leadership society, Ryan Chandler will appoint a public-relations committee.

He also may want to think about a life-support system, preferably one that can pump cold cash into Florida Blue Key.

For the first time in its exalted 75-year history, the University of Florida's exclusive guild is fighting for its very survival.

Last week, an Alachua County jury held the organization, which has long been synonymous with success in Florida, responsible for smearing a political rival by falsely portraying him as a child molester in a flier.

Jurors took only an hour to award $250,000 to Charles Grapski, 32 - $100,000 more than the 1995 candidate for student body president had requested. They shook his hand as they left the courtroom.

The judgment against Blue Key and member John McGovern, 23, a debate standout from Palm Beach County who will take office as student body president next week, is not the only scandal to tarnish the organization's reputation.

Over the years, members of Blue Key, an organization established to recognize and unite campus leaders, have been blamed for pranks and shenanigans that might be considered crimes in the real world. Among them: the theft of thousands of copies of The Independent Florida Alligator when the student newspaper endorsed candidates not backed by Blue Key in 1976, and again in 1996.

Even one of Blue Key's most esteemed alumni, Gov. Lawton Chiles, has 'fessed up: He once told the UF Student Senate that the political party he chaired at UF drilled a hole in the opposition's headquarters to eavesdrop.

Now, for the first time in its history, Blue Key is being held accountable in a court of law. If the verdict stands, the implications are serious. The organization already has turned to its vaunted alumni just to raise funds for its trial defense.

``It's tragic,'' said Stephen O'Connell, former Florida Supreme Court justice, UF president and Blue Key alum. ``They will be bankrupt.''

Blue Key and McGovern both deny involvement in the defamatory flier and plan to appeal. But critics who have long blasted the elite group for bastardizing the democratic process and disenfranchising the majority of UF students hope the verdict will force introspection and reforms - something O'Connell and other Blue Key alumni long have tried but failed to impose.

One of them is Sarasota lawyer Dan Lobeck, student body president in 1976-77. His last act before leaving office was to write a letter exposing Blue Key's patronage system, which he said turned the group mission from leadership to perpetuating power. He is both saddened and gratified by the verdict.

``For decades, Blue Key has been sending students into the real world with the philosophy that leadership decisions are based on back-room deals and special favors,'' Lobeck said. ``When I was there, I was told: `This is the way it is in the real world. Get used to it.' Perhaps that's true, but I thought if we were going to change things, we needed to start there.''

Wearing a tailored suit and sucking a cherry lollipop, Chandler, 22, agrees any institution can be improved, but the incoming president sees no reason for Blue Key members to hang their heads. Or reform.

``Obviously, we have an image problem,'' the law school student said. ``But I don't care what the verdict was against us. We are leaders, and, as leaders, we will not go down without a fight. We do a lot of good for this university and this community, and we will continue to do so.''

Lollipop aside, this fight is not kid stuff.

It's indirectly about control of UF's student government, which, despite its campus arena, is no playground. With 41,000 students and an $8 million budget, student government runs the equivalent of a small city.

Officially, Blue Key has nothing to do with student government. A nonprofit, private corporation, it was established in 1923 to foster loyalty to the university. Though its primary function is to stage UF's annual homecoming activities, a $500,000 extravaganza that culminates in Gator Growl, the organization has long been considered a pipeline into Florida politics and the good old boy network.

And for good reason. Active members number just more than 100, but the group's alumni roster reads like a Who's Who of Florida politicians, business and civic leaders. On the list: Florida governors, Supreme Court justices and U.S. senators, past and present.

But the two-week defamation trial established as fact the worst-kept secret on campus: For decades, Blue Key has used homecoming and Growl - and membership in its elite organization - to control student government.

It does so by controlling the primary voting bloc on campus, the Greek fraternities and sororities, through what's widely known as the ``power-group system.''